Speed control mechanism for electric motors



Nov. 8, 194-9 w. L. HANSEN ET AL SPEED CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2 1944 N E T 3 2 R A5 m W .U ab m 5% M. WM w l. A t. mm A W l A w m 2 M 2 wni a n w w 5 a;

Nov. 8, 1949 w. L. HANSEN ET AL SPEED CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELECTR IC MOTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 2, 1944 FIG. 4

lNVENTORS IL L. HA NSE-N HEX N. HURST 6 ATTORNEYS FIG. 7

PatentedNov.8,1949

SPEED CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS WfllilmLHansenandIraN.Hnnt,Pdnceton.

Ind anignorstoflanaenmannhcturlng pany, Ina, Princeton, 1nd, a corporation Indiana Application August 2, 1944, Serial No. 547,714

Claims. (CL 200-80) Thepresentinvmtionrelatestoelectric motcrsandmoreparticuiarlytospeed control apparatm therefor.

Therekadistinctneedintheartforasimple but eiifective mechanism for controlling the speed oi'directcurrentmotorsandhavethecontrol operate so effectively that the speed of the motor is maintained closely constant, regardless oi fluctuations in the line voltage and changes in the load. In certain types of installations, particularly in connection with airplane accessories and operating mechanism; which require the use of direct current motors. it is absolutely vital that themotorshallrmforlongperiodsoi time at a strictly constant speed. This is indeed a tremendous job when it is considered that such motors, mthecaseofanairplanemustberunirom' storagebatterieswhichareinvarious states of charge or discharge and considerable variation in the load may he went due to changes in the conditions within and atmospheric conditions without the airplane.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an automatic speed regulator of eiilcient but designthatwillmaintainastrictconstancyoispecdofadirectcurrentmotorwhich isbeingusedfordriveoreontrol purposes.

Another object is to provide a constant speed control for direct current motors which is equally applicable to the iield and armature of a motor I or a generator.

Stillanotherobiectistoprovide a speed control of the type referred to and in whichthepointinthespeed curve at which the control mechanism cuts in or out may be readily adjusted so as to accommodate all changes in speed that may be desired or necessary.

Theaboveobiectsareattainedinbriei by providing a centrif flfly operated switch which is mountedontherotatingelementandcanbe wnnectedastoaflecteitherthearmatm'e orthe field winding of the motor or both, in order to obtain the desired speed adjustment.

The invention will be better understood when reference k made to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents the'iront elevational view. partly in section, of a direct current motor provided with the improved speed control mechazisanendviewofthismechanism section in enlarged form taken along Pleural.

is a sectional viewtaken aionglineI-Jinfigurei.

Figure 4 shows a circuit diagram including the armature of a direct current motor connected to the improved speed control switch.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end view 0! an armature to which a speed control mechanism has been secured for operating on the stationary field circuit 01' the motor.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the application of the invention to the shunt held of a direct current motor, while Figure 7 applies the speed control mechanism to the shunt field portion of a compound-wound motor.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 3, reference character I designates a circular plate of any suitable insulating material having a flanged edge 2. There is a projection 3 extending inwardly and radially from the outside rim, which serves as a support for a pair of stationary contacts 4. These contacts may have a spherical head which sets snugly in an opening within the projection 3 and is riveted as indicated at 5 to the plate i. In addition to the projections 3, there are two other projections or knobs 6 and 1 extending from opposite sides 01 the casing 2 and transversely of the casing. The projections 6 form abutments for spring elements 8, which are bent at 9 and secured to the inner surface of the flange 2 by rivets I 0.

A pair of V-shaped arms or levers H are secured at each corner ii to the lower ends of the springs 8 at the position of the projections 6. Each lever is provided with a finger it which terminates in a bent up portion It {or receiving a contact button I5.

The levers I l at the lower ends are also provided with a pair of inwardly extending legs I which have rounded ends ll. These ends are received by a slot or groove formed on the underside of the clamping block ll of insulating material which is provided with a tapped hole It.

A spring plate I! of metal spans the distance between the underside surfaces of the projection I and a screw 2! having a head 2| eflectively secures the block H to the metal strip I. An arcuate band of metal 22 extends around the lower inner surface of the flange 2 and is of such length as to hold the strip 4! firmly against the underside of the projection 1. The strip may be secured to the flange I by a pair of screws 23. An opening 24 is provided in the flange 2 and the metal band 21 to permit the application of a screw driver to the head 2|. The strip I9 is firmly held in position by the projection l and the arcuate member 22, and any htening of the screw within the block ll' causes the legs l4 to move downwardly about fulcrums formed of the knobs 6 and thus cause the contact pieces ii to press against the adjacent contacts 4.

Each lever is suspended from the flange 2 of the casing by the spring 8 which tends to press the legs inwardly so that when the screw 20 is loosened the legs it are also caused to move upwardly, resulting in the separation of the contacts. The screw 20 therefore eflectively serves to regulate the pressure at the contacts l5 and 4. The pressure regulating effect of the spring piece I9 is shown in Figure 4, wherein it will be noted that there is a space existing between the two pairs of contacts at each side of the switch.

The switch as a whole is mounted on the motor shaft shown in Figure l, with the flange portion 2 directed toward the armature windings 26. These windings are arranged in slots 21 formed in the laminations of the armature, and the latter is adapted to rotate within a metal casing 28. A pair of oppositely disposed field magnets 29 is secured to the casing directly adjacent the armature 21, as is well understood in the art. The armature 21 terminates in a commutator (Figure 4) on which rides a pair of oppositely disposed brushes for conducting current to the armature windings. Connections 30 (Figure 1) are taken from the switch to the armature windings. The armature shaft is suitably journaled in the casing at opposite ends thereof.

The electrical connections between the switch and the armature windings are more clearly shown in Figure 4. In this figure, reference character 3| designates the commutator, and the brushes are indicated at 32 at opposite sides thereof. Connections 33 are taken from suitable taps on the winding 26 to their respective commutator segments. A conductor 34 is connected between the stationary contact 4 and a tap 36 on the armature winding while a conductor 38 extends between spring 8 to another tap 31 on the winding. Conductors 38 may also be taken from separate taps on opposite sides of the armature winding and the stationary contact 4 and spring 8 at the other side of the switch.

It is apparent that as the motor shaft 25 rotates faster than a predetermined speed due to any cause, for example, a temporary increase in the line voltage applied to the armature winding or a temporary reduction in the load applied to the motor shaft, the increased centrifugal effect acting on the levers II will overcome the flexing effects at the spring 19 and will cause the levers to swing about the springs 8 to open the contacts at terminals I5 and 4 on each side of the switch. In order to increase the extent of this outward movement, and therefore, the separation of the contacts by reason of centrifugal effect we may attach cylindrical weights 39 to the levers II. This action open-circuits the oppositely disposed armature coils which under certain circumstances has the effect of reducing the speed of the motor. When the speed slackens, the levers II will swing in the opposite direction about the spring members 8 to close the contacts is, 4 and therefore serve to re-insert the armature coils 40 in the circuit.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the effect on the speed of the motor depends on the electrical characteristics of the windings in the terms of their resistance and generated counter-electromotive force. It is possible therefore, depending on the design of the armature windings which are open-circuited at the switch 4 when speed of the motor becomes excessive to cause the motor to reduce its speed under such circumstances. It is further apparent that by adjusting the screw 20 the point in the speed characteristicof the motor at which the two levers of the switch will kick in or out may be nicely regulated in order to obtain a close constancy of motor speed, regardless of fluctuations in the line voltage or changes in the shaft load. The absence of pivots on the levers H which normally give rise to friction also tends to increase the sensitivity of the regulator.

In Figure 6, we have shown the application of our improved switch in connection with a shunt field motor while Figure 5 illustrates the use of slip rings by which the centrifugally operated switch may be employed for controlling the stationary field circuit of a motor. The switch proper is generally indicated at 2 (Figure 5) and as in the case of the other figures the switch is secured to the motor shaft 25. A cylinder 4| of insulating material is interposed between the armature windings 26 and the flanged edge 2 of the switch, the cylinder being secured to the shaft. The cylinder may be flanged as indicated at 43 so as to leave a recess 44. A sleeve 45 is fitted over the flange 43 and secured if desired, to the inner edge of the switch 2 to form a unitary member. This sleeve is composed of alternate rings of insulating and conducting material, the latter constituting slip rings 46. Brushes 41 bear against the slip rings and connections from these brushes are taken to taps on the motor field. as exemplified in Figures 6 and 'l. The slip rings are connected through conductors 48 to the contacts 4 and [5 of the centrifugally operated switch. Thus, when the motor rotates at an excessive speed so as to open these contacts, the field circuit will be so modified as to increase the field strength and thereby decrease the speed of the motor.

A suitable arrangement for accomplishing this purpose is illustrated in Figure 6. in which a shunt field winding is indicated as 49 and a portion thereof is short-circuited by the switch 2 whenever contact is made between the elements 4 and i5. Consequently, as the speed of the motor becomes greater than a predetermined speed, the contacts open and the short circuit is temporarily removed so as to add the extra magnetic field of the coil 5|, to the original field 49. The speed of the motor is therefore decreased.

In Figure 7, we have shown the application of our improved centrifugal switch to a compoundwound motor exemplified by a series field 52 and a shunt field 53. The switch 2 is connected across the entire shunt fleld so as to cut out this field when the speed of the motor is normal and the centrifugal switch contacts remains in a closed condition. However, as the motor speed increases, i. e., becomes greater than a predeter mined speed, the short circuit across the fleld winding is removed at the switch to add the eflect of the shunt field to the series field and thus to reduce the speed of the motor.

While we have described our invention as being applied to a motor, it will be understood that the improved centrifugal switch may also be used in connection with electrical generators, in order to maintain the terminal voltage of the generator substantially constant notwithstanding variations in the speed of the prime mover. In this case. the centrifugal switch could be used to insert or remove windings either in the armature or field circuitof the generator to control the generated voltage or if desired, resistance may be added or removed from the output circuit to maintain a constant net voltage. In fact, any combination of circuits, whether in the armature or in the field of either a motor or a generator, may be controlled by the improved switch, using well known structures such as slip rings for transferring the supervisory effects of the rotating switch to a stationary coil or circuit. By properly designing the various elements of the switch, mainly the length of the lever arms II and the flexibility of the springs 8, a high degree oi sensivity of speed control can be attained by the improved structure. It is also evident that the switch is fairly simple and inexpensive to make and, also easy to install and repair since it merely has to be dismounted from the shaft 25 a It will be understood that we desire to comprehend within our invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. In a centrifugal control switch, a rotary body to be driven by the apparatus to be controlled, a pair of contacts fixed on said rotary body, a pair of movable contacts each on a pair of movable levers, resilient spring means connected to said body and said levers providing the sole means for movably mounting said levers on said body, counterweight means on each of said levers responsive to the rate of rotation of said body to open said contacts on said body and said levers,

and resilient means engaging said levers for normally urging said levers to contact closed position.

2. In a centifugal control switch, a rotary body to be driven by the apparatus to be controlled, a pair of contacts fixed on said rotary body, a pair of movable contacts each on a pair of movable levers, resilient spring means connected to said body and said levers providing the sole means for movably mounting said levers on said body, counterweight means on each of said levers responsive to the rate of rotation of said body to open said contacts on said body and said levers, and resilient means engagin said levers for normally urging said levers to contact closed position, means for adjusting the relative tension of said last mentioned resilient means.

3. In a centrifugal switch, a rotatable body adapted to be driven by the member to be controlled, a pair of contacts fixed on said body, a pair of levers, contacts on said levers adapted to engage said fixed contacts on said body, spring means fixed to said body and having one of their ends fixed to said body and their other ends fixed to said levers so as to provide the sole means for movably supporting said levers on said body, counterweight means on each of said levers responsive to the rate 01 rotation of said body to swing said levers outwardly to disengage said contacts, fulcrum of abutment means on said body engaging said spring means adjacent the point of connection of said spring means with said levers to provide a rocking fulcrum for said levers.

4. In a centrifugal switch, a rotatable body adapted to be driven by the member to be controlled, a pair of contacts fixed on said body, a pair of levers, contacts on said levers adapted to engage said fixed contacts on said body, spring means fixed to said body and having one of their ends fixed to said body and their other ends fixed to said levers so as to provide the sole means for movably supporting said levers on said body, counterweight means on each of said levers responsive to the rate of rotation of said body to swing said levers outwardly to disengage said contacts, fulcrum of abutment means on said body engaging said spring means adjacent the point of connection of said spring means with said levers to provide a rocking fulcrum for said levers, and means for conducting electrical current to the contacts on said levers" through said spring means.

5. In a centrifugal switch, a rotatable body adapted to be driven by the member to be controlled, a pair of contacts fixed on said body, a pair of levers, contacts on said levers adapted to engage said fixed contacts on said body, spring means fixed to said body and having one oi their ends fixed to said body and their other ends fixed to said levers so as to provide the sole means for movably supporting said levers on said body, counterweight means on each of said levers responsive to the rate of rotation of said body to swing said levers outwardly to disengage said contacts, fulcrum of abutment means on said body engaging said spring means adjacent the point of connection of said spring means with said levers to provide a rocking fulcrum for said levers, and means for conducting electrical current to the contacts on said levers through said spring means, and means for normally urging said levers to contact engaged positions including means for. varying the force exerted by said last mentioned means in opposing the force exerted by said counterweights upon rotation of the switch body.

WILLIAM L HANSEN. IRA N. HURST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 497,293 Higham July 16, 1889 420 469 Serrell et al Feb. 4, 1890 685,852 Kragh Nov. 5, 1901 1,057,436 Leeds Apr. 1, 1913 1,994,626 Townsend Mar. 19, 1935 2,144,733 Jeppsson Jan 24, 1939 

